Spinach Salad With Hot Vinaigrette Dressing
A vibrant spinach salad topped with crispy bacon, fresh mushrooms, and a tangy hot vinaigrette dressing, perfect for a flavorful and hearty appetizer or light meal.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil ⓘ
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate ⓘ
- dash of tarragon ⓘ
- dash of basil ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon chopped red onion ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion ⓘ
- 6 cups fresh spinach ⓘ
- 2 eggs ⓘ
- 6 slices bacon ⓘ
- 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms ⓘ
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble and set aside.
- In a saucepan, combine olive oil, vegetable oil, vinegar, orange juice concentrate, tarragon, basil, red onion, mustard, and green onion.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 15 minutes to prepare the hot vinaigrette.
- In the meantime, hard boil the eggs, peel, and chop them.
- Clean and slice the fresh mushrooms.
- In a large salad bowl, combine fresh spinach, chopped eggs, mushrooms, and crumbled bacon.
- Pour the hot vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For a lighter vinaigrette, reduce the amount of oil or substitute with a flavored vinegar like apple cider. If you don't have fresh mushrooms, canned ones work in a pinch but will alter the texture. Consider adding nuts like walnuts or almonds for a crunch. Feel free to adjust the herbs according to your taste or what you have on hand. This salad pairs beautifully with Everyday Potato Casserole.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this salad as a light lunch or as a side dish for dinner. It complements grilled chicken or fish beautifully, making it a versatile choice. For a heartier meal, consider pairing it with hearty dishes like Pork recipes or American recipes. Enjoy it alongside crusty bread to soak up any extra vinaigrette.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover spinach salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the vinaigrette separate to prevent the spinach from wilting. When ready to enjoy, reheat the vinaigrette gently on the stove or in the microwave before drizzling over the salad for a fresh taste.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Spinach Salad With Hot Vinaigrette Dressing contains roughly 1648 calories, with 88g protein, 196g carbohydrates, and 83g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (238% of the Daily Value), iron (222% of the Daily Value), and protein (175% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 690mg per serving (30% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different greens instead of spinach?
Absolutely! You can substitute spinach with arugula, mixed greens, or kale for a different flavor and texture. Just be sure to adjust the dressing quantity to suit the greens you choose, as some may require more or less dressing.
How can I make this salad vegetarian?
To make this salad vegetarian, simply omit the bacon and replace it with a plant-based protein like chickpeas or roasted sunflower seeds. You could also enhance the flavor by adding more herbs or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a cheesy taste.
What should I do if I don't have orange juice concentrate?
If you don't have orange juice concentrate, you can replace it with fresh orange juice or another citrus juice like lemon or lime. Keep in mind that fresh juice may alter the flavor slightly, so taste the vinaigrette and adjust the sweetness with a bit of honey or sugar if needed.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).